You’ve worked out which bikes your customers want, and now you need them at trade prices. To buy bicycles wholesale, you need a registered business and a supplier willing to open an account for you. You also need to know what each bike costs once it reaches your shop, and that’s more than the number on the quote.
We’ll go through it in order, with our own terms as the worked example. Buying bike parts wholesale follows the same path, so everything below applies to a parts order too.
Who sells bikes and parts wholesale, and which fits you
Three kinds of business sell to the trade. They differ mostly in how much you must buy and how fast stock arrives.
| Supplier type | What they sell | What you commit to | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Its own products, often made to order | Large production runs per model | Distributors and large chains |
| Distributor | Branded stock held in your region | Small orders, often by the case | Quick restocks of fast-moving parts |
| Wholesale supplier | Bikes, parts and accessories shipped from factories | An order total plus per-product minimums | New shops and online sellers building a range |
We’re a wholesale bicycle supplier, so we sit in that last row, and orders ship by freight straight from our manufacturing partners. The full wholesale range runs from complete bikes and parts through to apparel and workshop tools.
If you’re opening a shop, a wholesale supplier usually gets you a better price on your core range. A local distributor can still cover the urgent part a customer needs by Friday. If you sell online, check that the supplier accepts online-only businesses. We do, and we’ll look at your website during verification. Reselling to other shops in your country is a different arrangement, and our distributor program starts at USD 50,000 of purchases a year.
What you need before you buy bicycles wholesale
Trade prices are for businesses buying to resell, so expect a supplier to vet you first. We check that every new account is a real retail or online business.
Depending on the business, we may ask for registration details and a tax or business ID, plus resale documents where they apply. We’ll also want a link to your website or online store. Physical shops may need to send store photos or other proof that they trade. Verification takes about 2 business days.
Importing brings its own paperwork. The table shows the basics for four markets as of November 2026.
| Topic | United States | United Kingdom | European Union | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customs number | Importer number, which is your EIN (federal tax ID) if you have one (CBP Form 5106 (opens in a new tab)) | EORI number starting with GB (GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)) | EORI number from your country’s customs authority (European Commission (opens in a new tab)) | Import declaration for goods worth over AUD 1,000 (Australian Border Force (opens in a new tab)) |
| Tax | US suppliers skip sales tax if you give them a resale certificate, though state rules vary (MTC (opens in a new tab)) | Import VAT, which you can claim back if you’re VAT registered | Import VAT, usually paid at customs clearance (EU Access2Markets (opens in a new tab)) | GST, paid at the border (ATO (opens in a new tab)) |
| Bike safety rules | 16 CFR Part 1512 (opens in a new tab) | Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2010 (opens in a new tab) | Ask for test reports to EN ISO 4210 (opens in a new tab) | Mandatory standard (opens in a new tab) based on AS/NZS 1927, now under review |
Rules change, so treat the table as a starting point and ask a customs broker to confirm what applies to your shipment. Australia’s rules are changing now: the regulator has published a draft of a new bicycle standard.
How a first wholesale order works
These are our six steps; details vary by supplier.
- Apply for an account. Once we’ve verified your business, you get tier pricing (unit prices that drop as you order more) and live stock. You’ll also see minimums and current lead times.
- Ask for a quote. Tell us which products you want and how many, plus the country you’re shipping to. You don’t need an account to request a quote on a category. Ours come back within 2 business days with unit cost, minimums, lead time and a freight estimate. Each one also confirms which certifications apply to your market.
- Order samples of anything new to you. We sell single units at about 1.5 times the lowest tier price. We credit that cost against your first bulk order of the same product, so if you go on to stock it, the sample pays for itself.
- Build the opening order. Our first order has to reach USD 2,500, and you can mix complete bikes, parts and accessories to get there. For accessories, per-product minimums usually run 50 to 100 units.
- Pay. New accounts pay 100% upfront by bank transfer, which is normal between businesses that haven’t traded before. From there, accounts move to a 50% deposit with the balance due before shipping. We consider net terms only after a run of successful orders.
- Ship and clear customs. Our standard quotes are FOB, so we deliver your goods onto the ship at the origin port. After that, you arrange the freight and customs clearance and pay the import duties.
Most new dealers we work with start with a mix rather than one category. That usually means a few bikes for their core lineup, plus the spare parts and accessories that suit those bikes. The quantities depend on your market and your budget.
The quote price isn’t what a bike costs you
FOB stands for Free On Board. Under the ICC’s Incoterms rules, the seller’s risk ends once the goods are loaded onto the vessel, and the buyer pays the sea freight from there (ICC (opens in a new tab)). Insurance and duty land on your side, and so do port fees and the truck to your door.
Here’s one order of 30 hybrid bikes, priced through to the shop. The figures show the method only. They aren’t Ryden prices or a real duty rate.
| Cost | Example (USD) |
|---|---|
| 30 bikes at USD 180 each, FOB | 5,400 |
| Sea freight to your port, shared container | 900 |
| Cargo insurance | 40 |
| Import duty at an example rate of 10% | 540 |
| Customs broker and port fees | 350 |
| Delivery from the port to your shop | 300 |
| Total landed cost | 7,530 |
| Landed cost per bike | 251 |
Each bike costs USD 71 more than the quote, or 39%. Price your retail tags from USD 251, and remember it still excludes your mechanic’s time to build each bike. Your real duty rate depends on the product, where it was made and where it’s going.
Freight is charged by space and weight, and a boxed bike takes up far more room than a chain or a light. That’s why freight adds so much more per bike than per part.
Checks to run before you pay
- Is the order balanced? The most common mistake we see is too much of one model, size or product before you know what your customers prefer. We recommend a balanced selection first, then expanding whatever sells.
- Have you priced it landed? Compare suppliers on landed cost per unit, not the quote line.
- Did the samples pass? Check the finish and fit against what the quote describes.
- Is it all in writing? The quote should state the Incoterm (where your responsibility for freight starts), lead time, payment terms and how defects are handled.
- Do the bank details match? Before any transfer, confirm the account by phone on a number you already had. Treat any email that changes bank details as a warning sign.
- Do you have the compliance papers? Ask for the documents your market needs from the table above before the goods ship.
Common questions about buying bikes wholesale
Can I buy bikes in bulk without a physical shop?
Yes, if you run a registered online business. We accept online sellers and check your website or online store instead of shop photos.
Can I buy wholesale as an individual?
Usually not. Trade prices go to businesses buying to resell. If you’re buying for a club or a school program, ask whether the supplier quotes bulk orders for organizations.
How much money do I need to start?
With us, the opening order is at least USD 2,500, paid upfront. Budget for freight and import costs on top, which added 39% in the example above. Keep cash back for reorders.
Open your wholesale account
Send us your business details and we’ll verify them within about 2 business days. Once approved, you’ll see tier pricing and minimums across the range. Apply for a wholesale account.